Regional Networks

PEN Regional Networks have evolved to address the global issues of literature and freedom of speech in their local contexts. The Networks facilitate skills sharing and collaboration across geographic and thematic lines, as well as strengthening the advocacy capacity of Centres in their region in order to develop a more effective response to freedom of expression issues around the world.

Iberian American Foundation

Asia-Pacific skills share meeting, Lahore 2010

Founded in Panama in 1998, the Foundation encourages the connection of Spanish-speaking PEN Centres with the worldwide PEN community. This network includes Centres in Bolivia, Colombia, Galicia, Guadalajara, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Salta, San Miguel de Allende, Spain and Venezuela, as well as the Cubans in Exile Centre. It has provided translation assistance to ensure that PEN International’s messages and ideas are shared effectively, and that freedom of expression issues – particularly in Latin America – are brought to everyone’s attention. It hosts a stall at the Guadalajara International Book Fair every year, and regularly works with other national and international organisations on projects and campaigns.

PEN Africa Network

PAN Conference, Cairo 2010

Created in 2001 and comprising 17 PEN Centres from northern to southern Africa, this network connects African PEN Centres to each other and to the rest of the PEN community. It meets regularly to discuss projects and campaigns as well as common concerns, and to explore the possibilities of working together on behalf of PEN International and African literature. The network has played a crucial role in establishing PEN International’s programmes in the region, and continues to play a key leadership role within them.

PEN Balkan Network
The PEN Balkan Network was formed at the 77th PEN International World Congress in 2011. It aims to promote literary and linguistic exchange across the Balkan region and to give a louder voice to Balkan literature and languages on the world stage. The Network includes PEN Centres in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. The current seat of the Network is held by Serbian PEN.

Ural Altay Language Solidarity Network

URAL ALTAY Human Rights Summer School workshop

The Ural Altay network was established in 2009 with the support of the International Programmes team and the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee to address the principal issue identified by Centres in Central Asia in particular: isolation. It encompasses the twinning of Centres across regions, and uses cultural/linguistic connections to address organisational and freedom of expression issues as well as to reflect the rich, diverse literatures of its member cultures. The network includes PEN Centres in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Hungary and Finland as well as Central Asian PEN and Uyghur PEN.

PEN International
Unit A Koops Mill Mews
162-164 Abbey Street
London SE1 2AN
United Kingdom
Phone: 44(0)20 7405 0338
E-mail: info@pen-international.org
International PEN is a registered charity in England and Wales with registration number 1117088

PEN International

PEN International promotes literature and freedom of expression. Founded in 1921, our global community of writers now spans more than 100 countries. PEN International is a non-political organisation which holds Special Consultative Status at the UN and Associate Status at UNESCO.